by Todd Wineburner

The Livingston County Health Department is reporting 83 new cases of COVID-19 infection in Livingston County. That figure covers the period from July 27th through August 8th. During the same period another COVID-19-related fatality was reported as well.

Overall, 93 Livingston County deaths have been reported. The number of people to test positive for the disease stands at 5,019 with 53 cases currently active.

Health officials say the Delta variant is to blame for increasing numbers. The relatively new strain of the virus is much more contagious than previous strains. In a recent interview with WJEZ, Health Department Education and Marketing Director Erin Fogarty stressed the importance of vaccination in controlling the spread of the disease. “Transmission is much more likely in an unvaccinated population,” Fogarty said. She went on to say that unvaccinated individuals are much more likely to experience more serious complications from the disease.

Erin Fogarty’s complete interview is available at WJEZ.com. She stressed that vaccination clinics are available at the Health Department on Torrance Avenue in Pontiac. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are administered on Mondays. Clinics on Tuesdays offer the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Pfizer vaccines are available to anyone 12 years of age or older, but parental consent is required for those under 18.